Question

read the passage from \by the waters of babylon.\ it was close and dry and dusty in the house of the gods. i have said the magic was gone but that is not true—it had gone from the magic things but it had not gone from the place. i felt the spirits about me, weighing upon me. nor had i ever slept in a dead place before—and yet, tonight, i must sleep there. when i thought of it, my tongue felt dry in my throat, in spite of my wish for knowledge. almost i would have gone down again and faced the dogs, but i did not. which text evidence from the passage supports the theme that even nonliving things contain a life force? select two options. \it was close and dry and dusty in the house of the gods.\ \i have said the magic was gone but that is not true—it had gone from the magic things but it had not gone from the place.\ \i felt the spirits about me, weighing upon me.\
or had i ever slept in a dead place before—and yet, tonight, i must sleep there.\ \when i thought of it, my tongue felt dry in my throat, in spite of my wish for knowledge.\ \almost i would have gone down again and faced the dogs, but i did not.\

Explanation:

1. "I have said the magic was gone but that is not true—it had gone from the magic things but it had not gone from the place." - The place (nonliving) still has "magic" (life force).
2. "I felt the spirits about me, weighing upon me." - Spirits (implying life force) are in the nonliving environment.

Other options describe setting, personal experience, or actions, not nonliving things having life force.

Answer:

B. "I have said the magic was gone but that is not true—it had gone from the magic things but it had not gone from the place."
C. "I felt the spirits about me, weighing upon me."